Just got a new Odyssey. Their nav system was an option but I think I would rather have one of my own choice than the one Honda provides (easier to upgrade). I get around fine with just my little handheld, but I was pretty impressed with the navigation system demo and I think it might be fun to have one.... (just not a factory installed unit)

Anyway, my question is... does anyone use one of the dashboard navigation systems like the streetpilot or the roadmate??? What kind of features do you like or dislike?? What features really work well for you?

(** not intended to become a Garmin vs Maggie debate ) but Costco has the Roadmate 760 on sale for less than $500... price for the same unit on the Maggie website is $839. Nice deal.

Sadly I think if I ever go about such a thing, it'll be some kind of homebrew PC installed in a car, which I've pondered anyway for a variety of reasons. Only issue I have is making whatever rig I come up with as portable and non-intrusive as one of the autonavs.

yeah --- that Lowrance is nice, and within budget, my uncle uses lowrance GPS and likes it alot..... but I don't need the MP3 capabilities on this one. (the van already has an iPod dock - yes I am a nerd)
Too many choices ..... I'm going shopping some more this weekend.

I just need something that will say "turn here" and then when I MISS the turn, it won't mock me (grin) for being lost.

Just remember that most of the in-dash systems along with the standard GPS for in-vehicle navigation systems do not have the ability to up load waypoints and autoroute to those waypoints. They are build around a street address system.

If you are looking for situational awareness then these systems or a laptop type system running MS Streets and Trips or other software are adequate. If you are looking to up load your waypoints for the day and start autorouting to each then you have missed the boat.

Stick with a hand held GPS that you can autoroute and you can remove from the vehicle._________________Airborne All the Way!

The holster that drat19 uses in his car (sandbags to give it weight IIRC) is less money, easily removeable, and inexpensive. Plus it looks better than velcro.

Maybe you want to check that out instead

I have one of those suction cup notepad things they sell at Staples for less than $5. Removed the paper and springclip. Mounted my Magellan power cradle on it with screws, and it stays connected to the window for weeks just fine.

Another cacher I know who has a CS60, just screwed a belt clip to it to connect the GPS and added a small glued on eraser below it to keep the unit even and stable. (he's an engineer)

Totally random note on the suction cup type things... technically those are illegal in the state of Minnesota. Odd, but true... if you go to Garmin's webpage and look under accesories the suction cup style holders for GPS units come with a disclaimer that they are illegal to use in MN and somehwere else... complete with a link to the XGR's website that has the law. Nothing like the folks in St. Paul protecting us from ourselves some more.

Having said all that I'm not going to stop using my suction cup style Garmin GPS holder, but if you want to follow the law you now know.... and knowings half the battle.

Totally random note on the suction cup type things... technically those are illegal in the state of Minnesota.

Add to the list of things illigal, but commonly seen in windshields: Handicap permits (says right on it to remove before driving), hanging parking permits, fuzzy dice, beads, sunglasses, fast food bags...the list goes on. Even the velcroed/sandbagged GPS on dashboard might draw the attention of an officer if it obstructs the driver's view.

Sice I drive an old car, and also because I follow my GPS frequently, I decided to get another belt clip and super glue it to my console between my center vents. It's the same belt clip that you would get for cell phones - the nubby that shipped with my Garmin 60 fits very nicely and locks in. I'm thinking about gluing a rubber "tacky pad" or whatever it is called in order to make the GPS not move when I make high-speed, tight corners.

When I'm out for a really serious day, I used to use Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005 and it worked well when it didn't randomly crash. You'd have to look at the screen a lot. Now I use DeLorme's Street Atlas USA 2006 Plus, which gives me turn-by-turn voice directions and will recalculate the route when I stray from the path.

For a geocacher, I can't recommend Magellan's dashtops as they don't support entry of positions via coords; only addresses.

StreetPilot 2610 and 2620 are soon to be discontinued if they aren't already, but they're lovely units and if you're willing to do refurb can be found for easily under $500 complete with Mapsource unlocks, remote, and touch screen. They come with Garmin's "bean bag" mount - depending on whether the MN law is "on the window" or "on the dash" that may or may not get you around that.

Unlike a PC with the aforementioned "random crash" thing going on, they work very well. They boot in seconds and are way less fidgety.

Since a StreetPilot is on _my_ dash, they happen to be supported by GPSBabel which means they work in GSAK, too.